Lemi Shine - How Much, How Long

[308Jeff]

I've been reading a lot of threads on wet tumbling, hoping to fine tune for the best/easiest results. The one common denominator for almost everyone seems to be Lemi-Shine (or citric acid), but the the quantity used to seems to vary a lot.

Curious to hear what you think is the correct amount, and if you think/know there are ill effects or just plain wastage from using too much.

Same for how long you tumble. I'm sure that experience has told you how long is enough to get the maximum shine, and how long is just a waste of electricity/wear on the machine.

[RichBaxter]

I use a 1/4 tsp Lemi-Shine in each container on the Harbor Freight tumbler. Usually get great results with 120 minutes or so. Have used twice that on old nasty rifle brass however. Hope this helps.

Rich

[NyFirefighter357]

I use 1/4tsp and only a few drops 2-3 of Dawn in my F.A.R.T, I just turn the dial to 3 hrs and walk away. If the brass is really dirty I run it for an hr and change the water. If the stopped unit sits a long time I turn it back on for a little while before removing the brass. I fill my water to the top , just below the end cap.

[Adam20]

1/4 tsp for 90 minutes and a few drops of dawn, I tried more Lemi shine and it made no difference

[XDROB]

I have been experimenting and learning with SS tumbling lately. With the help from guys on these forums. My recipe is 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoon ArmourAll wash and wax, 1/4 of Lemishine. So far good results. Tumbled in a Frankland Arsenal tumbler for 1 hr.

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[Artful]

Um, unless you put an amount of H20 you are dumping it into you will get no accurate solution to your poll.
one man dumping 1/4 tsp into a quart container another man dumps 1/2 tsp into a gallon...
Same with the time to clean enough - do you have a large drum turning fast or a small drum turning slow?
You need specific's


have you looked at this?

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...-brass-cleaner

[XDROB]

Ok, so I forgot to mention the water, sorta thought it was assumed you were using water in SS tumblers. LOL

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[Gillie Dog]

I found when I moved that the quality of water had some small affect and it seems time dependent on what quantity of citric is to much.

I settled on 1/4 t to 1/2 t, one glob of wash and wax (one to two T) in about one gallon hot tap water for 30 minutes in a Thumblers works very well with my water quality. Shorter run also does less case mouth damage to the brass which I like.

YMMV

GD

[Bzcraig]

Using harbor freight machine, filling container approximately 3/4 full with brass, top off with water, I then use the smallest Dipper I've gotten with my Lee dies (about 1/4 tsp) for lemi shine.

[warpspeed]

I use a 1/4 tsp Lemi-Shine in each container on the Harbor Freight tumbler. Usually get great results with 120 minutes or so. Have used twice that on old nasty rifle brass however. Hope this helps.

Rich

me too

[308Jeff]

Um, unless you put an amount of H20 you are dumping it into you will get no accurate solution to your poll.
one man dumping 1/4 tsp into a quart container another man dumps 1/2 tsp into a gallon...
Same with the time to clean enough - do you have a large drum turning fast or a small drum turning slow?
You need specific's


have you looked at this?

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...-brass-cleaner

I took that into consideration, and probably should have included it in the poll/question.

I know there are many options when it comes to tumblers, but I had the FART in mind as it's probably the most prolific among this group.

[GrayTech]

I use citric acid (same thing), but I don't tumble with it. I soak brass for 15 to 30 min in boiling hot water, ¼ tsp per 2 liters, plus a drop or two of dawn. Stir periodically.
Often don't even need to tumble, brass comes out clean and shiny. Rinse well!!!!! last rinse I add wax to the water.
Citric acid is very active in hot water so keep an eye on them every 5 min to check for red colour indicating zink being leached from the brass.

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[jeepyj]

12 lb lortone =1.5 of lemi, squirt of blue coral, 4 oz simple green degreaser, 5/8+/- full brass then finish filling with water. Perfect every time.

[pjames32]

1/4 tsp, capful Armor all carwash to a gallon of water. I'm using it in a Harbor freight ultrasonic for about 30 minutes. If especially dirty I prewash in a bucket with Dawn first.

[308Jeff]

At the suggestion of another poster (Bayou52), I tried 1/4tsp of Lemi and 1 ounce of Turtle Zip Wash and Wax last night. Ran about 800 pieces of 40 S&W in the F.A.R.T. for 3 hours.

Man... Not only is it shiny, clean, and spotless, it has a totally different "feel" to it. Very smooth and sleek. The wax angle is legit.

I'm sold.

[Bmi48219]

I use 1/8 tsp Lemi, 4 drops Blue Coral W&W, in each HF drum, 2/3rd to 3/4 full of brass, 1/2 cup m/l SS pins. Most cartridges tumble for 2 or 2 1/2 hours. Except .45 auto. For Winchester 45 brass, 3 1/2 hours. Any less & the primer pockets don't get clean in Winchester 45 brass.

[David2011]

I use citric acid (same thing), but I don't tumble with it. I soak brass for 15 to 30 min in boiling hot water, ¼ tsp per 2 liters, plus a drop or two of dawn. Stir periodically.
Often don't even need to tumble, brass comes out clean and shiny. Rinse well!!!!! last rinse I add wax to the water.
Citric acid is very active in hot water so keep an eye on them every 5 min to check for red colour indicating zink being leached from the brass.

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GrayTech,

I think there is some misunderstanding in your post. Lemi-Shine may have citric acid in it but it is not 100% citric acid. In fact, the actual ingredients are listed as trade secrets on the MSDS. The box says, "Made with real fruit acids, natural citrus oils and sodium bicarbonate." Lemi-Shine is an additive to the citric acid. Your concentration of citric acid is pretty low and that is probably why it's taking so long. If you were adding Lemi-Shine to a citric acid solution then it would be enough Lemi-Shine. When I treat brass with citric acid I heat the water to about 160 degrees F. I add about 2 tablespoons of citric acid and a dash of Lemi-Shine to a gallon of water and at 160 degrees and the action is pretty much instant. I see little improvement after 5 seconds but generally leave the brass in for about 2 minutes while stirring it in the solution.

I have never seen citric acid remove zinc from the brass. The red/pink color is revealed because corrosion has already removed the zinc. If it is smooth I tumble the brass after it's dry. If there is pitting in the pink areas I consider the brass to be scrap. Once polished in a vibratory polisher the pink color disappears.

David

[308Jeff]

Well that's interesting. We all know that baking soda is a mild abrasive, so I'm sure that probably adds some effectiveness to wet tumbling process.

[Bayou52]

At the suggestion of another poster (Bayou52), I tried 1/4tsp of Lemi and 1 ounce of Turtle Zip Wash and Wax last night. Ran about 800 pieces of 40 S&W in the F.A.R.T. for 3 hours.

Man... Not only is it shiny, clean, and spotless, it has a totally different "feel" to it. Very smooth and sleek. The wax angle is legit.

I'm sold.

Congrats on your great results, Jeff. Well done!

Just for everyone's benefit, you can cut your wet tumbling time by at least half by pre-soaking the brass overnight in hot water and laundry detergent (I use Tide). If your time permits, of course. No need to add Lemi-Shine or citric acid to the pre-soak.

A jeweler couldn't put a brighter shine on the brass!

Pic:



Bayou52

[DocSavage]

Squirt of Dawn and 1/4 tsp lemoni shine to a gal of water.